It seemed strange that Prin should be in London and make no effort to see her little brother. But the ways of the Princess had often appeared unaccountable to Bert.
Bert lingered no longer to recall the painful circumstances that had marked for him the Jubilee Day. He walked off briskly, but some impulse, not too evident, withheld him from taking the direct way home. He crossed the road and turned towards Park Lane. Presently he was passing along that aristocratic thoroughfare, finding much entertainment in observing the fine houses and the park, and the smart people who were moving about.
Suddenly his heart leaped within him, for there was Prin. A carriage was approaching him, and she was seated within it. He stood at the corner of one of the streets running out of the Lane, and the carriage dashed past him and stopped before a door about half-way down the street. Prin was very near him as the carriage went by, but she gave no sign of seeing him, and he had not dared to call out, as he had done before. But he noticed as she passed that her face was very red.
It took Bert a few moments to recover from the surprise, then he hastened after the carriage. He was in time to see its occupants alight. First there stepped down a lady wearing the wide cloak and flowing veil which mark the professional nurse. Then, with the help of the footman, she lifted down a girl apparently about Prin's age, with a face as white as a snowflake, who had to be supported on each side as she moved towards the open door. Prin followed, carrying a cushion and wrapper. She looked straight in front of her, or she must have seen her brother hurrying towards her. By the time he reached the house, the great door was shut, and the coachman was turning his horses round.
Bert watched the carriage drive away. Then he surveyed with a sinking heart the handsome oaken door. If only he had the courage to sound the knocker and demand to see his sister! But he dared not.
Yet he was resolved that he would not go away without seeing her. If he stayed there all night, he would wait till she came out. There was a lamppost close by. He threw his arms about it, and leaned against it till he was tired. Then he sat down on the edge of the pavement with his back against the lamppost.
Meanwhile a pair of eyes within the house were anxiously watching his movements. When it appeared that he was determined not to go away, a window above the door was raised a few inches and a voice, clear, though carefully subdued, called to him:
"Go away, Bert; go away at once. It is very naughty of you to come here."
Bert looked up quickly. The voice was undoubtedly Prin's, but he could see nothing of the speaker.
"I'm not going," he made answer boldly; "I shan't go away till I've seen you."